Merian trust reaction: 'Exciting' but 'high risk'

Merian targeting a fundraising of £200m

The reception to Merian Global Investors' plans to launch its first trust investing in unquoted companies has been largely positive, although not without warnings.

On Monday (10 September) Richard Buxton's firm Merian announced its first fund launch following Old Mutual Global Investors' (OMGI) rebrand to Merian Global Investors, which comes into effect at the beginning of October. The firm is targeting a fundraising of £200m through an initial placing alongside the launch of a 12-month placing programme. The trust, Merian Chrysalis Investment Company, will be run by small- and mid-cap managers Richard Watts and Nick Williamson, and aims to generate long-term capital growth through investing in a portfolio consisting primarily of equity or equit...